D&D 4E How does the 4E Barbarian Rage ability work?

[Engilbrand]

Most classes have a secondary role, this is just the first time that they have flat out stated it.
The Paladin is a secondary leader because of buffs and healing.
The Fighter is a secondary striker because he has some abilities that dish some damage.
The Rogue is a secondary controller because he can move things around the area.
The Barbarian is either a secondary defender because of all of those hit points and things that will let him take the damage that allies could take, or he can be a leader with, I would assume, abilities like Primal Shout or something with a similar name that will bolster allies while they watch him strangle dragons.

 

[jbear]

Most classes have a secondary role, this is just the first time that they have flat out stated it.
The Paladin is a secondary leader because of buffs and healing.
The Fighter is a secondary striker because he has some abilities that dish some damage.
The Rogue is a secondary controller because he can move things around the area.
The Barbarian is either a secondary defender because of all of those hit points and things that will let him take the damage that allies could take, or he can be a leader with, I would assume, abilities like Primal Shout or something with a similar name that will bolster allies while they watch him strangle dragons.

Maybe I read wrong but it seemed to me like there are some build choice class abilities missing which decide whether your secondary role is defender or leader

 

[Engilbrand]

There are. They show us the defender side and mention that there's a leader side. I'm extrapolating.

 

[Runestar]

I noticed that a wizard who rages (via multiclassing) can crit on 18-20 with his spells. Bug or feature?

 

[Aust Diamondew]

I noticed that a wizard who rages (via multiclassing) can crit on 18-20 with his spells. Bug or feature?

I'm going to say feature and cite the 'rage mage' of 3e as evidence.
Thats not to say anything about balance issues, but flavor wise it can make sense.

 

[Falling Icicle]

I think the idea behind the 4e Rage mechanic is clever, it just feels a bit clunky and akward in its implementation to me. I'd prefer if Rage was a class feature, and the powers offered additional benefits if they're used while raging. Instead of giving you a rage, those powers could instead add extra benefits to your existing rage. That would accomplish the same result and feel less cumbersome and mechanically weird to me.

 

[Samurai]

I too agree that the whole Rage Strike thing is a bit silly and overly complicated. Why not simply allow the Daily Powers (rages) to have 2 possible effects: One effect if the character is not currently in a rage (or wishes to switch to the effects of the new rage), and 1 effect that occurs if the Barbarian is in another ongoing rage and doesn't wish to give it up? That seems much easier to understand IMHO...

 

[Falling Icicle]

Or they could just say you can keep the previous rage effect instead of switching to the new one, if desired.

 

[Stogoe]

I too agree that the whole Rage Strike thing is a bit silly and overly complicated. Why not simply allow the Daily Powers (rages) to have 2 possible effects: One effect if the character is not currently in a rage (or wishes to switch to the effects of the new rage), and 1 effect that occurs if the Barbarian is in another ongoing rage and doesn't wish to give it up? That seems much easier to understand IMHO...

Because then you have to put that in every single daily power. Collecting all that in one place, like what they did with Rage Strike, saves space and makes that information easier to find.

 

[DracoSuave]

Or they could just say you can keep the previous rage effect instead of switching to the new one, if desired.

That's inferior to what it is currently.

Let's say you just used Rage of the Primal Beast, and you want to hit them with another daily.

Now your level 25 dailies are actually pretty beefy damage-wise, but your level 19s both deal 3[W]+str, ongoing 10. Not bad, but not great for a level 19. But let's say you just want the damage.

Your way, you'd just plug them for 3[W]+approx 20 damage from ongoing, less if they're solos.

The way it is now, you'd topload that for 7[W] damage, which with a Mordenkrad, is... 4[W] difference, 27 extra damage on average, all toploaded and not subject to the whims of saving throws.

Besides, Rage Strike has the characters '9[W]' on it which might hold the record for the largest [W] seen ever, and may be the largest we'll ever see.

And it's -meant- to be used with big arse thumpin' weapons.